Two Dead in Drive-By Shooting Outside Newark School

Two people were killed and five wounded in two separate incidents at about the same time Friday evening, during which authorities said at least some of the victims appear to have been targeted in a drive-by shooting outside a Newark school.

A shooting in the area of Livingston Street and 18th Avenue left two dead and three others wounded at about 6 p.m. Friday, Newark Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio said.

Clifton Purkett, 36, of Newark, and Rashid W. Pryor, 37, of Plainfield, sustained fatal injuries following a drive-by shooting at that location, according to a release issued Saturday by Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and DeMaio.

Purkett was pronounced dead at the scene. A short time later, Pryor was pronounced dead at University Hospital, the release said.

Three other males were shot but survived. The wounded are a 34-year-old Irvington man and two Newark men, ages 39 and 45. Their names are not being released at this time.

The preliminary investigation indicates the victims were outside of a school when the shooter drove up and open fire on the men, the prosecutor's office said. It appears at least some of the victims were targeted, the prosecutor's office said.

Two people were wounded in a separate incident at about the same time, DeMaio told NJ.com. However, no further details, including that shooting's location, were immediately available.